Offshore Wind Wire

Environmental Watchdog Cries Foul Over Massachusetts Ocean Plan Concessions

By Peter Brennan
A leading environmental law group said last month that Massachusetts officials exceeded their legal authority when they delegated offshore wind regulation to regional planning agencies.
In a Nov. 23 letter to Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) outlined what it claims are inconsistencies between the Massachusetts Draft Ocean [...]

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Senate Committee Considers $500 Million Offshore Wind Bill

By David McGlinchey
A subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources heard testimony today on legislation that could funnel $500 million into offshore wind research over the next decade.
Under Secretary of Energy Kristina Johnson cautioned, however, that the bill focuses too heavily on deep water technology.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced S. 2773 on [...]

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Governors Call For Faster Offshore Permitting

BOSTON — Governors of two coastal states last week called for faster federal permitting of offshore wind turbines.
Gov. Jack Markell (D-Del.) and Gov. Donald Carcieri (R-RI) each told the American Wind Energy Association’s offshore wind conference that the current permitting process would hamper the U.S. offshore wind industry.  Markell said the United States could lose [...]

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Developers Say Two Projects On Track For 2012

BOSTON — Offshore wind projects in New Jersey and Rhode Island are on track to be operational by 2012, developers said Thursday.
The chief executives of Deepwater Wind LLC and Fishermen’s Energy made their predictions at the American Wind Energy Assocation’s offshore wind workshop.  Deepwater Wind is planning a wind farm near Block Island, RI, as [...]

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National Grid Enters Price Talks With Cape Wind

BOSTON — Cape Wind and utility operator National Grid agreed to enter into talks on a long-term power purchase agreement, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced Wednesday.  An agreement to purchase the electricity generated by the proposed 130-turbine project is a major hurdle in attracting investors to a project that is expected to exceed $1 billion.
Patrick [...]

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New York Seeks Proposals For Great Lakes Wind Project

The New York Power Authority launched a search yesterday for a developer who can install as much as 500 MW of offshore wind power capacity in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario or both.
“Today we reach a milestone in New York’s energy history,” said Power Authority CEO Richard Kessel.  “Developing the natural wind resources of New [...]

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Offshore Wind Czar Begins Work In Rhode Island

Lawrence R. Kunkel began work Monday as a senior offshore wind adviser to Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri, according to the Providence Business News.
State officials made clear that Kunkel’s $91,000 salary is being paid by the federal government.  Carcieri’s office did not respond to inquries about the exact source or nature of the federal funding.
The [...]

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